Goettingen Botanical Gardens

One of my favorite places in Goettingen Germany is the Botanical Gardens (there are two locations). The older garden is bisected by the old city wall and the two sides are connected by tunnels. The garden is beautiful in September with cannas in bloom, Japanese maples in Fall color and the last blossoms of Summer glowing in the sun light.
I would walk into town from Michael's apartment through the Botanical Garden leisurely enjoying the views, beautiful specimens and quiet corners ideal for relaxing in the sun.

THE DANUBE AND WALHALLA

Michael went back to Goettingen on Sunday and I explored the town some more and Monday a trip on the Danube to Walhalla was in order. It was built in the mid1800's to honor great Germanic people (I think they are all men.) It is based on the Parthenon but not exactly to scale. It is on a high hill overlooking the Danube out in the middle of nowhere. When walking around the outside it almost felt like our Parthenon in Nashville until you looked out over the countryside and the Danube - lovely location.
Along the Danube were more Kleingartens (little gardens). There is a patch of these small gardens in rich soil divided by fences, sometimes with little sheds and often like little cabins and they spend the weekend there tending and enjoying them. They have flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and lawns. Like our backyards without the house. Maybe most of these people live in apartments.

Regensburg

Our first foray out of Goettingen was to Regensburg in Bavaria during Octoberfest season. Regensburg is on the Danube River and the bridge was built in the 11th century and is the pride of the city.The city is so clean and well kept and lived in that if it weren't for the narrow streets and the half timber buildings and signs telling when they were built you would think they were much newer. Nothing shabby about this town.
Towers and clocks were an important status symbol through the centuries so if you came into wealth you would build a tower and if you could afford it you would make it taller than anyone elses.
One of my favorite places to eat lunch was the little wursthaus by the bridge that lore has it that the bridge builders ate here and it has been serving wursts ever since. The potato soup with wurst, bread and beer made a satisfying lunch.

MICHAEL'S BROKEN LEG

Michael broke his leg 24 August when he was hit by a car while on his bicycle. Fortunately it was at low speed while turning and Michael was legally crossing the street on his bicycle. He had surgery to put pins and screws in his foot and leg and I flew to Germany and arrived the day before he was released. It was good to be able to help him in little ways, carrying laundry and groceries but it was better to just be in his world for a while.
Goettingen is a great little town. Its not a tourist town so few outside Germany have heard of it but it is easy to get around and the old city is very scenic. They have an excellent bus system that everyone uses and fortunately a bus stop is right in front of Michael's apartment. Even though I didn't use a bicycle it was easy to appreciate their accommodation for those using them with extra wide sidewalks and designated lanes for bicycles, even traffic lights just for bicycles and pedestrians.
The city wall encircles the old city and is wide enough that it is a walking path, thats where I saw the hedgehog.

PERCY PRIEST IN FALL

Mid-Fall is not when I thought I would be on the water in my kayak. But it was a beautiful sunny day and the water was warm and fortunately I stayed dry. Corey joined me in his new kayak and we paddled around the Hamilton Creek area. A regatta was planned for this day but the lack of wind foiled their plans.

PICKETT STATE PARK

After everyone else headed home I went back to Pickett State Park to reminisce and plan for our gathering next Fall. The park is just as beautiful as I remember it and looks well taken care of.
The CCC cabins built in the 1930's are especially charming. Years ago we stayed in the cabins built in the 1950's - Crab Orchard Stone style and in the 1970 chalets. Each has its charm and level of comfort.
The lake with its S-shape curve,swinging bridge and natural stone bridge was just as beautiful, also.

BIG SOUTH FORK

We stayed at the Big South Fork Lodge. They are set up to board horses and provide lodging. It was fun to be out in the country and around horses.
Rose, Will, Shania and I went for a 2 hour ride Sunday afternoon at Southeast Pack Trips. They had good horses and the sandy soil was easy on the horses hooves and the trip through the Fall Color was magnificent.

FALL COLOR ON THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU

We had our annual Weaver family gathering Saturday at MaryKay and John's in Crossville. Cool sunny Fall day, couldn't ask for better weather. The color was close to its peak, too.

LYCHEE SEEDLINGS

These are the little trees from the lychee seeds that Michael planted before leaving for Germany in June. They have made a little grove and growing well as long as I keep them watered.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

Early in the season you could walk through the garden with ease. Now the heirloom tomatoes have all grown together. They were on 6 foot tall garden stakes but the weight of just the vines caused them to topple. So they were just layed on the ground. Its harder to get to them but the production is probably the same. The heirloom varieties did not start ripening as early (around July 4th) as hybrids I've grown in the past.
Okra is growing right outside my bedroom window so that I can check to see if it needs to be picked as I open the blinds first thing in the morning.
My all time favorite tomatoes are the cherry tomatoes. The vine to fruit volume is in better proportion. And they just keep producing all through the season. And its a great snack.

AUGUST GARDEN

Lili and Sophi came over for a little while and checked out the garden with me. They loved watching and trying to catch butterflies in the zinnia garden.
They also checked out the pumpkin crop. Five so far only one in my garden the others in Jeff and T's driveway. I guess they'll keep getting bigger until they're cut.

DRAKES CREEK KY PADDLE

Off to Bowling Green Kentucky for the Saturday paddle. The BGKY paddle group, formed for less than a month, met on Drakes Creek for a leisurely 5 hour paddle on a shady cool stream. The five of us took our time exploring the creek, going upstream on the middle fork to see the ruins of a mill and its dam, taking turns choosing which way to go when we came to a riffle or a downed tree. We were lucky on the four downed trees that crossed the creek. Three completely covered the creek except for a few feet. The fourth one we found three different routes through it, with a few limbs in the face.
After four days with paddles and the longest one on the last day, a day of rest is in order.

OLD HICKORY LAKE PADDLE

Friday seven of us paddled across Old Hickory Lake just above the dam to Anchor High Marina for the monthly meeting for Leslie's kayak group. Another pleasant evening on the water. Choppy water going over but calm water going back. The lights on the dam were bright and lit up the water.

SUNDOWNER AT HAMILTON MARINA

Thursday evening back at the sailboat marina for Mark's kayak group's meeting. Another delightful paddle and another potluck dinner. We had the gorgeous sunset - alas, didn't have camera. One reason that this location is so enjoyable is the bank of the lake has been covered with carpet. And it extends 20 or 30 feet out into the lake. It protects my boat bottom and makes it easy on entry and exit for the paddler. The most likely time to capsize on a paddle is at the take-out. Slippery and unstable rocks, deep squishy mud and steep banks all make take-outs precarious and dangerous. So carpet is definitely appreciated.

PERCY PRIEST LAKE-PADDLE AND PIG

What a week. The last four days have included a paddle each day. Wednesday the Paddle and Pig group met at Hamilton Creek Sailboat Marina for their weekly paddle around the lake and pot-luck dinner. Evening is a special time to be out on the water in Summer. The heat of the day is past and most other boaters have left the lake. Very quiet and you may be blessed with a gorgeous sunset.

PIPEVINE CATERPILLARS

It's exciting! In this muggy heat of August, the female Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly has finally visited my little pipevine, Aristolochia fimbriata. There are at least 10 caterpillars in various stages of development.
The first plant was put in the ground in 2006 and it has become one of my favorites. It's a vine but works best as a ground cover trailing across the ground. It has grown to less than two feet long. It produces lots of seeds and has come back each year with more plants slowly covering several square feet. The veining on the leaves is particularly attractive and looks good all Summer long even in the extreme heat.
This Spring at Henry Horton State Park (for the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap)near Lewisburg TN along the Duck River there were lots of wild pipevine in bloom growing up the trees along the river. Saturday, while paddling the Sequatchie River I saw many of these wild pipevines in the trees along that river, also.

Sequatchie River Paddle

Met Pete and Sue, John, MaryKay and Dakota Saturday in Dunlap to paddle six miles on the Sequatchie River. It was hot, probably in the mid 90's and the river and being close to it was sounding like a good way to spend the hottest part of the day.
My kayak was my choice of transport - love the maneuverability and my independence.
The Sequatchie is comparable to the rivers in middle Tennessee that I've kayaked this year. One point of interest is the fish trap where a narrow chute was made originally by the native Americans to funnel fish into a net. Its just wide enough for a kayak or canoe and gives a bit of a thrill on an otherwise placid river.

Went to Percy Priest Lake this morning with Pete to try out his Crossfire kayak. The lake was beautiful. We put-in at Hamilton Creek Sailboat Marina. Sailboats and kayaks, both being motorless work well in the same marina. Plus some thoughtful person covered the put-in area with carpet so it makes for a gentle and less muddy entry. There was no one on the lake on this lovely Monday morning, except two fishermen minding their own business. It was cloudy most of the morning so no need for hat and sunglasses, nice.
The Crossfire presented a challenge on wide open still water. Since it is smooth on the bottom with no keel it does not track. At low speeds it will go straight for a while but then it decides to turn and it is a challenge to get it straightened back up. It makes for very slow going.
Didn't take my camera so these pictures are from my solo journeys last Summer.

Swiss Festival, Gruetli TN

We were in the Alps or at least higher elevation on the South Cumberland Plateau. Mary Evelyn and I went to Gruetli Laager TN near Tracy City and Monteagle to the Swiss Festival that they have been celebrating for 30 years. This year they cranked up their publicity - it was in the Tennessee Conservationist and the Tennessean.
The Swiss came over in the 1870's when conditions were difficult in Europe and settled together in a farming community. With their efficient and industrious ways they had a good life in Tennessee.
The brown Swiss oxen were the first thing we saw when we arrived.
The alpen horns were played along with the accordion, and yodeling in the Swiss style.
There were fondue and wine tasting. Brats with kraut, beer and roasted corn on the cob were for sale at very low prices. By the way admission for the festival was $2, incredibly cheap.
The house on the homestead was open and completely furnished with many traditional items and Swiss memorabilia. Several quilts were on display. This one reminded me of the Swiss flag - white cross on a red background.
There was also a little flea market, lots of fun to browse. A book caught my eye, Something from Nothing by Robert J Baltz, Jr. It tells the story of the Baltz family that emigrated from Germany to Nashville and established a successful meatpacking company in Nashville.
The reason this book interested me was that Robert's Uncle John was my godfather.
That story will be for another time. The book was signed by the author and the recipient of the author's note happened to be the clerk who took my money. We had a good conversation about the author and and my interest in the book. I'm sure it gave her comfort that the buyer had a special connection to the book that she had donated to the festival.
We returned to Nashville by way of Beersheba Springs and McMinnville. The view is from the overlook at Beersheba Springs which was a cool Summer get-away from hot and unhealthy cities before the day of air-conditioning and modern sanitation.
It was a great way to spend a lovely July Saturday.

NARROWS OF THE HARPETH

Last week while Edith was visiting we hiked The Narrows of the Harpeth State Natural Area. We saw many wildflowers, beautiful views and the tunnel that Montgomery Bell blasted through the limestone in the narrowest area of the ridge before the Civil War.

PADDLING ON THE CANEY

Saturday we paddled the Caney River. The cold water released from the bottom of Center Hill Dam was appreciated since it was a hot July day. We passed under I40 three times near the end of the paddle.